On a steamy night in Lone Tree, the Lady Lions completed their second big comeback in as many games against IMS to advance to the regional quarterfinals with a 5-4 first round win. The first two innings were dominated by pitching and defense but IMS broke through with a four run bottom of the third. IMS won the coin toss giving them the final at bat. IMS cracked three hits in the inning including a two RBI triple from Naomi Miller. Lone Tree wasted little time finding a response, the Lady Lions rallied for four runs in their half of the fourth on four hits including an RBI double from Mackenzie Reynolds and a two RBI triple from Maggie Schmidt. The game winner for Lone Tree came in the sixth as Nicole Zadow came in to score on an RBI basehit by Avery Edwards. Following the game she talked about what she was looking for in the game winning at bat.

“I was more or less just looking for that girl to score, and I was really hoping I wouldn’t get out, but I got in a pickle and got tagged out, but I scored the run and that is all I wanted,” Edwards said.

Edwards did it all for the Lady Lions, she also posted the win in the circle going all seven innings, allowing just four hits and striking out five. Lone Tree Head Coach Tom Dickey spoke after the game about the performance of Edwards and her battery mate Jenny Jones behind the plate.

“Two players that just did a great job for us tonight were Avery [Edwards] and Jenny [Jones],” Dickey said. “They both hit the ball tonight, and the way they work together on the mound and behind the plate they just did an outstanding job for us. With Avery, in this kind of heat, pitching all seven innings and never asking for anything and Jenny the same way just out there battling with the heat. I couldn’t be more proud of how they worked together tonight.”

Laura Hochstedler took the loss for IMS, going six innings surrendering five runs on five hits. With the win Lone Tree advances to the regional quarterfinals Thursday night at #5 Lisbon. IMS concludes their season at 6-19.